MARSHFIELD - Briteway Car Wash on Route 139 may have a high-tech new interior, but its exterior appearance hails from the early 20th Century.

By A.J. Bauer

Briteway Car Wash on Route 139 may have a high-tech new interior, but its exterior appearance hails from the early 20th Century.

The car wash's vintage, art deco design is the brainchild of architectural illustrator Peter Whitman of Marshfield, and is part of a recently completed $1.4 million renovation.

Paul Vercollone, vice president of Verc Enterprises, the Duxbury-based company that owns the car wash, said the renovation began with a need to replace the wash's septic system. Eventually, Verc opted to pursue a complete overhaul. In addition to a new septic system, the car wash's new features include a ``touchless'' car wash system, a cloth tunnel and improved water recycling.

It also includes Whitman's art deco design, which he said just came to him upon looking at the building, which was built in 1974, before it was renovated.

``You know, the classic era of the automobile was really around the art deco era,'' Whitman said, referring to the 1920s and '30s when art deco was a dominant architectural style.

Incorporating the art deco concept of using symbolic architectural elements, Whitman envisioned the pediment on the roof of the building above the drive-through as evoking the grille of a classic car.

Vercollone said he was excited with Whitman's concept and sees it as one more way to stand out to customers.

``He was way outside the box with materials and making it look different,'' Vercollone said. ``We like to offer the community something pleasing to look at.''

This is not Verc Enterprises' first foray into architecturally appealing car washes. The company's car wash in Norwell won the 1994 ``Car Wash Beautiful Award,'' issued by American Clean Car Magazine, a trade publication.

``I'm sure Marshfield will be an award winner as well,'' Vercollone said.

A.J. Bauer of The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.) may be reached at ajbauer@ledger.com.

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